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Busan’s Cultural Complex DOMOHEON Surpasses 300,000 Visitors, Proving Strong Public Interest!

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that DOMOHEON, a cultural complex created for citizens, has welcomed over 300,000 cumulative visitors since its opening on September 24, 2024.

DOMOHEON is a remodeled and fully publicized space that was once the official residence and event venue for the Mayor of Busan. After more than 40 years, it has been reopened to citizens as a multipurpose cultural facility.

The milestone of 300,000 visitors far exceeds the city’s initial annual target of 200,000. An average of about 1,300 people visited DOMOHEON each day, confirming continued public interest and support since its opening.

In April, only six months after opening, the cumulative number of visitors surpassed 200,000. Since then, with the designation of the Sosopung Garden as Busan’s first residential garden and the spread of word about its diverse programming, visitor numbers have steadily increased, reaching 300,000 in just 10 months.

This achievement is attributed not only to the opening of the space but also to meaningful communication with citizens, incorporating their feedback to create a space that genuinely reflects their needs.

Visitor Statistics for DOMOHEON (Unit: persons)

Visitor Statistics for DOMOHEON (Unit: persons)

Period	~Dec 2024	Jan 2025	Feb 2025	Mar 2025	Apr 2025	May 2025	Jun 2025	Jul 2025
Cumulative	119,118	142,568	166,032	192,442	227,712	259,970	280,899	295,773

Meanwhile, DOMOHEON features a variety of cultural elements, including:

• ●Sosopung Garden, designated as Busan’s first residential garden

• ●A variety of citizen-oriented lectures and healing programs

• ●Free exhibitions, all of which contribute to the facility’s popularity among visitors

○ Sosopung Garden is composed of themed areas including a Lawn Garden, Pond Garden, Participation Garden (featuring sculptures and commemorative trees), and a Sculptural Pine Garden. The garden is planted with 252 species totaling 47,650 plants, including pines, Blechnum orientale, and Clerodendrum trichotomum. Recently, additional outdoor amenities such as rest tables and deck seating have been installed to enhance visitor comfort. Citizens can enjoy relaxing walks in the tranquil atmosphere of this urban garden.

○ Lecture and Healing Programs: In the first half of the year, DOMOHEON hosted events such as the Sosopung Festival, Love & Peace furniture exhibition, and Art Busan exhibition, all of which received enthusiastic public response. Currently, programs include:

• ●"Space Interpretation Tour", which allows participants to learn about the history of DOMOHEON

• ●"Busan Story", where leading figures in Busan share their personal success stories

• ●"Busan School", a series of lectures exploring life’s meaning

○ Free Exhibitions: Recently, free exhibitions have been held in the lounges on the first and second floors, continuously drawing foot traffic to the venue.

Looking ahead, the city plans to raise public interest and enhance the value of DOMOHEON through diverse programs in the second half of the year.

○ Planned activities for the second half of the year include:

• ●Operation of a media façade, utilizing the site’s historic character to develop cultural media content

• ●Creation of the Sosopung Lounge

• ●A first anniversary celebration for DOMOHEON

• ●Special guest lectures

• ●An event for the 400,000th visitor

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “Surpassing 300,000 visitors is more than just a numerical milestone; it signifies that DOMOHEON has become a beloved space that connects citizens’ daily lives with emotional experiences.” He added, “We will continue to plan various content so that more people can enjoy tradition, culture, and new experiences at DOMOHEON, making it an even more cherished place.”